EU Foreign Policy Chief, Josep Borrell on Monday, November 18, 2024, expressed his hope that EU members could agree to allow Ukraine to use arms to strike inside Russia.
This came as Ministers are attending the monthly EU foreign affairs meeting in Brussels, the last one to be chaired by Borrell, who is ending his five-year term.
Borrell will stand down as the EU’s Foreign Policy High Representative next month.
Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Borrell stressed, “I’ve been saying once and again that Ukraine should be able to use the arms we provided to them, in order to not only stop the arrows but also to be able to hit the archers.”
“I continue believing this is what has to be done. I’m sure we will discuss once again. I hope member states will agree on that.”
Josep Borrell
He suggested that if there was no common decision “anyone will do whatever they believe is according to the need to support Ukraine.”
Borrell’s remarks follow after U.S President, Joe Biden on Sunday, November 17, 2024, reversed a ban on the firing of long-range US missiles into Russian territory by permitting them to be used against Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region.
The US President will allow Ukraine to use US-made Atacms rockets, which have a range of 190 miles (300km).
It is not clear if Donald Trump, who has previously criticised the scale of US military aid to Ukraine, will seek to reverse the decision.
France, which has already provided long-range missiles to Ukraine, on Monday signalled that allowing Kyiv to strike military targets inside Russia remained an option on the table.
Dutch Foreign Minister, Caspar Veldkamp described the US decision as very important.
“What I see is that President Putin in general only listens to facts on the ground. And I think therefore that it is very important the US also does not [impose] limitations any more for weapons delivered to Ukraine.”
Caspar Veldkamp
Also, Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock told reporters that this was not a shift in western policy.
“The decision from the American side, and I would like to emphasise that this is not a rethink but an intensification of what has already been delivered by other partners, is so important at this moment.”
Annalena Baerbock
Polish President, Andrzej Duda has said that the US decision to allow Ukraine to use US-made missiles to strike targets inside Russia is a “potentially decisive moment.”
“This decision was very necessary. Russia sees that Ukraine enjoys strong support and that the west’s position is unyielding and determined. It’s a very important, potentially decisive moment in this war.”
Andrzej Duda
Use Of Longer Range Missiles Not A Guarantee For Ukraine
Meanwhile, Ukrainian MP, Mariia Ionova said that the use of longer range missiles against Russia will not guarantee victory for Ukraine and called for a change of strategy from western leaders.
Mariia Ionova, who sits on the foreign affairs committee in the Ukrainian parliament, said during a radio program that missiles are not the “silver bullet against our common enemies.” “That is why we are asking all our friends that we need a change in strategy, because our enemies are united and we should stand together as well,” she added.
“When we are talking about this permission [for longer range missile fire], yes, we appreciate it, but that [alone] will not bring a victory. [We need] an air shield over Ukraine, more training, more western military instructors in Ukraine, more sanctions, and also more secondary sanctions.
“And I think also we should be, and our friends’ leaders should be, more creative, braver.”
Mariia Ionova
She urged Ukraine’s allies not to exclude anything and not to postpone. “We understand the procedures in democratic societies, but for us, time is human lives,” she stressed.
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